Swollen red gums, and nervous angry biting at everything, are some unmistakable signs that indicate that your baby is about emerge the first tooth. A total of 20 baby teeth, also called primary, begin to emerge and grow from six to eight months. Swollen red gums, and nervous angry biting at everything, are some unmistakable signs that indicate that your baby is about emerge the first tooth. A total of 20 baby teeth, also called primary, begin to emerge and grow from six to eight months. Then, when they turn six or seven years old, the teeth will fall out and are replaced by the secondary or permanent teeth.

To protect children’s teeth, cleaning is vitally important for oral hygiene.

During the months preceding the onset of their first teeth, to remove bacteria that nest in the gums, use a small gauze soaked in water.

When teeth begin to emerge, rub the teeth and gums with a small soft toothbrush. To neutralize bacteria, simply use only water. The use of toothpaste is not required, but encouraged from the time the child reaches one years old.

The main threat to the teeth is sugar. Sweets, and biscuits are a danger, as the sugary substances contained in these foods are dissolved in the mouth, staying too long in contact with teeth. The bacteria in plaque absorbs these sugars and produce acids that in turn causes cavities.

To avoid this, limit the consumption of sugars by not letting the child fall asleep drinking a fruit juice or sucking a pacifier coated with honey or sugar. It is important to remember that, to strengthen bones, and particularly the jaw, children also need minerals like calcium and fluoride, and especially vitamin D.

The chief responsibility for the formation of cavities is plaque, a film of salivary origin that tends to settle on the teeth. If this plaque is not removed, it produces acidic substances that promotes the growth of bacteria that can attack the teeth in just 24 hours. The corrosive action of decay is not restricted to the tooth surface, but may reach the bone, below the enamel.

Children should be taught from the outset to take care of their teeth. Apart from good oral hygiene and proper nutrition, it is important to take the child to the dentist. Don’t wait for evidence of pain in the child to go to a dentist even though the tooth will inevitably fall out. Follow common sense and watch your child grow up with a beautiful smile.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernard_McClay

Are your teeth looking a bit tired and yellow? Our teeth can become discolored and stained for a whole bunch of reasons, some of which are the natural aging process, our habits or lifestyle (such as smoking, drinking coffee or red wine, eating rich or sweet food) or as a side effect to taking some medications. You are probably aware that lots of foods will stain or discolor the teeth, but did you know there are lots of friendly teeth foods that will actually help whiten your teeth? Just by adding these teeth whitening foods into your diet you can really help fight yellowness, stains and discoloration. Below are listed some of the best teeth foods you should be able to pick up on your next shopping trip.

Strawberries are delicious and healthy, but did you know they also whiten your teeth? Strawberries contain malic acid, which helps break down plaque buildup, and also naturally whitens the teeth. They make a great dessert, so munch a strawberry or three after each meal to get the full effect.

Vegetables such as celery, carrots and cucumbers help clean the teeth with their crunchy texture, and also stimulate additional saliva, the bodies natural defense against tooth decay. Fruits such as apples and pears can also have the same effect.

In addition to the healthy teeth foods above, make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, which not only dilutes acids that cause teeth stains, but also is good for your health generally. Make sure you keep brushing and flossing (you can ad a pinch of baking soda to your toothpaste to give it a whitening affect) and avoid the nasty teeth staining foods as much as possible, the main offenders being coffee, tea, red wine, and sugary snack foods.

Are you sick of having yellow, stained or discolored teeth? Looking to discover how to whiten your teeth quickly and effectively?

Come see how the best home whitening kits stack up against each other and see which ones are the best for making teeth whiter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_T._Johnson